Thanksgiving

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Trusting the Rabbi

I imagine all of us have had trust issues at one time or another. Perhaps a parent with a child, or a spouse with a spouse. This lack of trust usually comes about from various forms of deception, either an out an out lie or ‘twisted’ truth.

After my studies this morning and after viewing different comments on my social media I began forming thoughts on how we trust Jesus. I know and I believe that I can trust Jesus 100 percent. I had a moment of clarity when I realized me not fulfilling certain elements of all God requires of me, have nothing to do with my trust in Jesus, but my trust in myself. How often do we find ourselves in this upside down trust?

If you’re like me you believe that Jesus never asks us to do anything that we can’t do. That tells me that he has complete faith in us! We are the ones that doubt our abilities and that is where trust issues come in and where they get turned around. We set ourselves up for failure right in the middle of what we have set out to do; and sometimes before we even get started.

Our Sunday morning class has recently begun a study of the life of Jesus as a young Jewish boy. We’ve only had two classes so far and I am already finding it fascinating. It was pointed out that too often we read scripture through our western eyes rather than the setting of the teaching of that time.

We have touched on how young they started teaching their children the Torah.

Bet Sefer -First stage of Jewish teaching at the ages of 5-6, memorizing the Torah- First five books of the bible.Beth-Midrash – By ages 13-14 you had every bit of Hebrew text memorized.

I took a look at Matt 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

When a student has learned much from the Rabbi he is asked to follow the Rabbi. Jesus, the Rabbi, chose Peter and Andrew, James and John. He had faith in them and in what he was about to teach them, that they would carry out his work.

Later we read in Matt 14:25-31 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Here we see Peter wanting to walk on water like Jesus. (The Rabbi) Peter lost faith in himself. Jesus wasn’t sinking, Peter was. Peter lost faith in himself.

Too many times I have lost faith in myself before I ever stepped out of the boat. Have you?

Matt 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
(from THE MESSAGE)